When was the last time you played? I mean really played like you did when you were a kid? Yesterday was an amazing sunny and warm day here in the otherwise grey, bleak, damp, awful (need I go on?) Midwest. The whole city was out celebrating and having fun, and there were as many dogs as there were people at the park! As I strolled by a baseball diamond, I watched what would be a YouTube video gone viral if I had captured it! But it has to do with dogs and unabashed PLAY. Read on.

A group of 20 somethings were playing a game of softball. A player hit the ball that went midfield. Enter stage left at about third base, a 40 lb mutt fielded the ball and took off in the foul area. The players looked confused, "What just happened and whose dog is this?" The dog was laughing and willfully taunting all of the players, running by each of them at high speed with the ball in his mouth! The pitcher repeatedly yelled to the dog, "Hey, bring me the ball!" The dog would have none of it. He lay down on the grass and started chewing on their softball. Finally, another dog caught the ball-stealing dog's attention, and he dropped the ball. At that point the dog's owner grabbed the ball, and threw it to the pitcher. But wait...The next hitter came to bat, was ready to swing, and now TWO random dogs appeared in the outfield, facing the batter and barking at the top of their lungs. The dogs were shouting, "COME ON!! HIT IT!! Isn't this FANTASTIC!!!!" The one "bad" dog had recruited additional dog players!Now everyone was cracking up...the players, the onlookers, and the dogs! The dogs positioned themselves as absolute players in the game...the best players.

This is the reason I love dogs. They LOVE to PLAY. They remind us and CALL US to PLAY. Dogs are the AVATARS of PLAY.

I ask you....when was the last time you let go and just had FUN? Try to be an AVATAR of PLAY this week and see how your week changes.

(I am left with only one question...how did the dogs innately know how to play softball???? Even positioning themselves in the outfield? Too funny...)